Ami Vitale isn’t just a photographer; she’s a force of nature with a camera. She’s been to over 100 countries, braved war zones, lived in mud huts, and even dressed up as a panda (yes, really!) to get the perfect shot. But it was a life-changing moment in 2009—documenting the transport of one of the last white rhinos—that turned her lens toward wildlife and conservation.Now, with five World Press Photo awards under her belt and recognition as one of InStyle’s “Badass Women,” Ami’s work goes beyond pretty pictures. Her photos tell powerful stories that spark real change, showing us why our planet is worth fighting for.More info:Instagram|direct.meThis post may includeaffiliate links.
Ami Vitale isn’t just a photographer; she’s a force of nature with a camera. She’s been to over 100 countries, braved war zones, lived in mud huts, and even dressed up as a panda (yes, really!) to get the perfect shot. But it was a life-changing moment in 2009—documenting the transport of one of the last white rhinos—that turned her lens toward wildlife and conservation.
Now, with five World Press Photo awards under her belt and recognition as one of InStyle’s “Badass Women,” Ami’s work goes beyond pretty pictures. Her photos tell powerful stories that spark real change, showing us why our planet is worth fighting for.
More info:Instagram|direct.me
This post may includeaffiliate links.
When you think of photojournalism, you might picture bustling cities or gripping war zones. But Ami Vitale, an internationally acclaimed photographer, has redefined the field in the most awe-inspiring way. We had the chance to dive into her incredible journey, and trust us—her story is just as breathtaking as her photos.Ami’s career began in conflict zones, capturing the raw and often heart-wrenching stories of people navigating life amidst chaos. She spent years documenting wars, natural disasters, and human struggles, but something in her perspective shifted as she traveled deeper into the heart of the world.
When you think of photojournalism, you might picture bustling cities or gripping war zones. But Ami Vitale, an internationally acclaimed photographer, has redefined the field in the most awe-inspiring way. We had the chance to dive into her incredible journey, and trust us—her story is just as breathtaking as her photos.
Ami’s career began in conflict zones, capturing the raw and often heart-wrenching stories of people navigating life amidst chaos. She spent years documenting wars, natural disasters, and human struggles, but something in her perspective shifted as she traveled deeper into the heart of the world.
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A black rhino rests beneath a rainbow at @OlPejeta Conservancy in Kenya. In 1993, Ol Pejeta was home to just 20 black rhinos. Through dedicated breeding programs and rigorous anti-poaching efforts, their numbers have surged to over 165 today.Kenya’s black rhinos, once on the brink of extinction, have made a remarkable recovery over the past three decades. From a population of 240 in 1984, numbers have soared to over 1,000 thanks to the collaborative efforts of communities, government agencies, and conservation organizations. This success, however, has introduced a new challenge: overcrowding in existing sanctuaries.To address this, @KenyaWildlifeService (KWS) translocated 21 eastern black rhinos to @loisaba_conservancy in Laikipia County. Loisaba, which has not had rhinos for 50 years due to past poaching, now boasts top-notch security and has dedicated nearly half of its 58,000 acres to provide a new home for these majestic creatures. This operation not only highlights Kenya’s conservation achievements but also represents a vital step toward creating stable habitats essential for the species’ continued survival.
“I realized the stories I wanted to tell weren’t just about the conflicts,” Ami shares. “They were about hope, about resilience, and about our profound connection to the natural world.”That realization set her on a transformative path. Today, Ami is a leading voice in conservation storytelling, blending her artistic eye with a passion for wildlife and the environment. Her work has taken her to some of the most remote corners of the Earth—from documenting the efforts to save northern white rhinos from extinction in Kenya to capturing the symbiotic relationship between pandas and their environment in China.
“I realized the stories I wanted to tell weren’t just about the conflicts,” Ami shares. “They were about hope, about resilience, and about our profound connection to the natural world.”
That realization set her on a transformative path. Today, Ami is a leading voice in conservation storytelling, blending her artistic eye with a passion for wildlife and the environment. Her work has taken her to some of the most remote corners of the Earth—from documenting the efforts to save northern white rhinos from extinction in Kenya to capturing the symbiotic relationship between pandas and their environment in China.
One of the earliest theories put forward as to why giraffe have such long necks is that it gives them an advantage in securing nutrients. They can reach leaves that no other animals can. The theory dates back to the time of Darwin.Others posit that the long necks are a result of sexual selection since male giraffes battle with their necks to win mates. Most recently, scientists have hypothesized that the long necks are to help fight the African heat. The greater surface area allows more heat can escape.
Through her lens, Ami sheds light on the delicate balance between humanity and nature. Her images don’t just tell stories—they ignite conversations. Whether it’s through National Geographic, her workshops, or her TED Talks, Ami’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet we all call home.
Lekupania cradles an orphaned gerenuk at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (@r.e.s.c.u.e) in northern Kenya. Gerenuks are long necked members of the antelope family. Their numbers are falling due largely to habitat loss and fragmentation and there are fewer than 100,000 in the wild.While @r.e.s.c.u.e is most well known for its elephants, it also takes in other species, including giraffes, rhinos and gerenuks, nurses them back to health and returns them to the wild.
Peek-a-boo! Twelve year old mother giant panda, Si Xue tries to hide behind a tree at the Wolong China Conservation & Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province, China. Because of their low-energy diet, pandas avoid stressful situations and exertion. They are elusive and solitary creatures in the wild.It’s hard to imagine, but these animals were once as mythical and elusive as Bigfoot. They have been around for millions of years, but were only made known to the western world within the last century. The first panda was captured alive only in 1936.By breeding and releasing pandas, augmenting existing populations and protecting habitat, they are on their way to successfully saving their most famous ambassador and in the process putting the wild back into an icon.My book, Panda Love, is sold out but one of my images, Pandas Gone Wild, is currently available in the @vital.impacts Winter Collection. The profits will help support the next generation of environmental storytellers too. Learn about our grants and mentoring programs at vitalimpacts.org (link in profile) All my panda images are available as prints.
“I want people to see the beauty and importance of what’s at stake,” she says. “Photography is a powerful tool for empathy. It’s not just about documenting the world—it’s about changing it.”
@olpejeta conservancy, home to the last two northern white rhinos on the planet, Najin and Fatu. It is also home to 42 southern white rhinos, and the largest population of black rhinos in East Africa.The region is in the midst of a brutal, record-breaking drought, and your support is critically needed. We hope these images will inspire you to believe that we have the capacity to reimagine and to believe that we can fundamentally change the course we are currently on.
This panda cub was sleeping at the Bifengxia Giant panda base in Sichuan province, China. When giant pandas are born, they are tiny, blind, and pink, with very few hairs. The average weight is 100 grams (0.2 pounds), only 1/900 of their mother’s weight. This places them among the smallest newborns compared to their mother of any mammal: Human mothers are only about 20 times heavier than their babies. According to expert Dr Wang Dajun, the tiny birth size is “definitely a result of evolution over millions of years … It is a kind of breeding strategy.” He explained that pandas subsist almost entirely on bamboo, and, “It is easier for the animal to convert bamboo into milk than to convert bamboo into animal tissue.” Hence shorter gestation and longer nursing. They are also one of the fastest growing mammals on the planet. This little one was about a month old and learning to crawl.
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Dunes in Tinfou, announce the approach to the Great Sahara Desert in Morocco.This fine-art photograph is part of the @vital.impacts World Rhino Day Flash Print Sale that will benefit @olpejeta conservancy in northern Kenya. @olpejeta is home to the last two northern white rhinos as well as the largest black rhino population in East Africa.
Who’s ready for a wild weekend and why is this man wearing a panda costume and standing with a stuffed leopard?At the Wolong China Conservation & Research Center for the Giant Panda, panda keepers use a stuffed leopard scented with real leopard scents to test captive-born pandas. If a panda naturally senses danger and flees from the predator, she passes the test. The keepers themselves wear panda costumes covered in panda urine to prevent the pandas from becoming accustomed to humans before being released into the wild.
A herd of elephants waits for one lone bull to cross a highway in northern Kenya before the others cross. Roads can be perilous paths for wildlife. They can fragment elephant populations, making it difficult for herds to access essential resources. Habitat fragmentation is one of the biggest challenges and wildlife corridors are essential to help mitigate the challenges.The Samburu have been living alongside wildlife for thousands of years, sharing land and resources with the elephants in a balance of coexistence and respect. But more recent urbanization endangers this relationship between elephants and people. Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (r.e.s.c.u.e) is turning to the community to help. The sanctuary rescues orphaned elephants and rehabilitates them to be released into the wild to rejoin local herds. From making their food to providing care 24/7, raising young, orphaned elephants takes a village.I am thrilled to share some exciting news! Thirteen elephants will soon be taking their next steps to return to the wild. Many of you who have been following along on this journey from the beginning, when the sanctuary opened in 2016, will recognize the elephants who are graduating. I will be sharing all the details soon! Please follow along with me and at @vital_impacts and @r.e.s.c.u.e as we launch an exciting new campaign to support these elephants and the extraordinary community protecting them. I can’t wait to tell you more as their journey back home starts to unfold!
Mpokoti Lenapeer collects fresh goat milk that will be sent to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, in northern Kenya.Reteti has not only pioneered an innovative rewilding technique but also developed a new feeding method, significantly boosting elephant survival rates and revitalizing the local economy.@r.e.s.c.u.e found that young orphaned elephants respond better to goat milk than to powdered milk formula intended for human babies. The “milk to market” program is also transforming the lives of over 1,200 local women who are earning an income for the first time.
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